The Irish standard., 1887-12-10
THE PERIOD OF COuRT|NG.
The Dangers of eompany~Keeping' to
Young People and the Du-
BEWARE OF AASTY PROMISES.
The Distinction Between the Legal
and Ecclesiastical Engagement
Needfu! Caution.
t!c0 u { al CiI Is.

Eye~y parent Will know that the pc
Rod Of courtng. OF onpany-keeplng
is Il tine OF great temptation and trial,
aud that young and inexperienced per
sons require their advice and guidance.
Good children will no, make amy &C
quaintances, with 6. view to company
keeping, without seeking the advice
anG consent Of their parents or guar
siians. An honorahly minded young
man will ask permission from The pa
rents or guardians Of the girl, to Whom
he desires to pay MIS- addresses as suitor
for her hand.
BEWARE or HAsTY PROMISES.
The fist matter Of Importance which
snggests itself for admoniJion is the
caution to he observed by all young
persons who are keeping company, not
to make has1Y promise Of marriage,
and not to give any formal pledge Of
engagement, much less TO commit
themselves in foolish and incautions
correspondents.
The time OF companykeepiDg is a
time FOR learning tle dispositions and
compatibility Of temper which may ex
list, and for forming q Judgment as to
the probabilities Of the persons being
able to unite III making a happy in-
ture.
When the decision is arrived at, and
the consent Of parents is obtained,
then what is called an s'engageme ment"
may take place in reference to future
marriage.
This engagement is a serious matter,
and if rashly, imprulently or secretly
made may frequently be deeply re
gretted, and yet, if broken, may en-
tail exposure, humiliation, and severe
pecuniary less,
LEGAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL.
It iB necessary TO distinguish the
legal engagement from the eccleslasti
cal one, or espous;lls {sponsolia} as they
are called by theo!ngians.
The law wilt give redress and heavy
pecuniary damages, when the persons
can afford, ia retaration for breach Of
promise'' of marriage. OF for the viola"
tion Of an eu!ga cement to marry, when
the premise or cDga ellent can be sat
isfactoyily proved. and when the
s'breach Of prom Sc" OF refusal TO mar
ry cannot be Justified.
The Church recognizes the solemn
and formal engagement, Or sponsolia,' .
and attaches her sanctions and penal
ties to the observance or violation OF
the engagement. Such a promise or
engagement not only cannot be broken
without Injustice and sin, except for a
grave cause, or by mutual consent; but
rs long as that promise and engage
rnent remain unrescinded, neither
party may enter u2an another engage
me1,t to marry Neither party can
lawfully marry another person, aud
both are absolutely forbidden by the
Church to contract marriage with
blcod relations Of the other side in the
first degree; and this diriment impedi
melt, in the first degree Of coLsanguin-
ity, affects the parties although the
sponsulia were lawfully rescinded.
AS the promise to marry is attended
with serious consequences, ali young
persons would do we'll to make them
selves acquainted with the nature and
conditions Of the formal engagement
which bind them to fidelity.
CONDITIONS, ETC, OF THE sPoNsoLIA
In order that the engagement may be
such as to obtain the recognition and
sanction of the Church, and such as
will render the violation of it subject
to ecclesiastical penalties, the follow
ing conditions must be found to have
been fulfilled:
Il. The promise to marry must be
sincere, and not merely pretended.
2. The promise must be mulu ual, and
must be made and accepted by both
parties.
3. 1t must be made with full deliber.
alton and consent
4. Both parties must be capable of
marriage, either at the time of the
promise, or at some future specified
time.
S3s 1T Is immaterial whether the engage.
ment be made publicly or secretly;
whether in the presence Of witnesses, or
! alone; whether capable. Of legal proof,
4 or whether unsubstantiated by evi-
Hdence.
If all the conditions laid down by the
Church are fulfilled, then the promise or
cement is sacred and binding be-: b, u
" fore! Tod and the Church: The wilfuls